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Iceheart
Undertaker / Pink Star Lover
 
Australia
1146 Posts |
 Posted - 06 February 2004 : 1:50:46 PM
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I dont know about pebbles Blair Bitch, but awhile back I went thru a Cemetary phase. I just found myself drawn to wandering thru cemetaries, and I often wondered waht all the different markings and figures on graves meant....heres what I found out. 
FLOWERS & PLANTS
Plants indicate the person's country of birth. Different plants are used for different origins. For example:
Roses - England
Thistle - Scotland
Shamrock - Ireland
Leek - Wales
Ivy draped on on a headstone symbolized hope and mortality.
Coral/Shells
These indicate resurrection. The shell in ancient times represented fertility.
Celtic Crosses
Originaly, a Celtic cross was put above the grave of a person to indicate that they were of Irish Origin. But as fashions changed by the late 19th century many people had these symbols placed on their resting places whether they were Irish or not.
Funerary Urns
These were used only as decoration on graves in the 19th Century. Although today most people prefer cremation, in Victorian times, it was quite uncommon. People did not believe in cremation as it was believed that this prevented resurrection.
Columns
Columns appear broken and unbroken. Broken columns indicate a life cut short. Children and victims of accidents such as drowning often have such monuments erected.
CLASPED HANDS
In Victorian times (that is during the time of the reign of Queen Victoria of England) the strong belief that the soul of the deceased would be reunited with his or her loved ones after death is indicated on headstones by people holding or clasping hands. You can tell the sex of the person who has died without reading the inscription on the grave by looking carefully at the cuffs. In the photograph of clasping hands above, it can is a man who is rejoining his wife, who predeceased him. How do we know she died before her husband and not the other way around? The hand of the person who died first, whose spirit has come to comfort and escort their loved one to the afterlife, is always slightly higher as if they are leading the dead person into the light and arms of God.
IRONWORK
As you walk through the cemetery you will notice that elaborate, rusting, ironwork fences adorn many gravesites. The purpose is not entirely decorative. The iron prevents evil spirits from entering, thereby keeping the good souls safe.
Cherubs & Lambs
These indicate that a child is buried in the plot.
Unmarked Graves
Murderers, suicides and others who had violated the most sacred laws of society were given special treatment upon their death. The reason for this was an ancient one - fear, fear of the dead. Those violent enough to take their own lives or the lives of others were believed to resent the living and were likely to return seeking revenge.
They were buried in the most isolated places as far away from settlements as they possibly could. No-one who committed mortal sin could be buried in consecrated ground. The were also buried facing the north-south position, so as to confuse their spirits and keep their souls in limbo.
~Iceheart~
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TheBlairBitch
Ghost
 
Australia
78 Posts |
Posted - 06 February 2004 : 3:45:47 PM
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Thanx for the information Jaz. I do a fair bit of investigating around graves and stuff, and have seen people placing the stones on the graves and just didn't know at all what they were doing.
I might print all this out and go investigating a bit more 
....Out of the bottomless pit comes the little horn, "Little Horn is born".... |
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Iceheart
Undertaker / Pink Star Lover
Australia
1146 Posts |
Posted - 09 February 2004 : 5:24:56 PM
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I like to wander thru cemeteries and read people's graves. To think, all those ppl lived and breathed once....
Where do you u live blairbitch |
Edited by - Iceheart on 21 September 2004 2:29:46 PM |
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TheBlairBitch
Ghost
Australia
78 Posts |
Posted - 10 February 2004 : 12:05:51 PM
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I live in an old NSW outback, country town called Gilgandra. It's about 60km North of Dubbo and about 5 hours West of Sydney.
I hate it. I'm still waiting on my knight in shining armour to come riding in on his trusty steed to save me from this hell hole! Any takers? hahaha 
....Out of the bottomless pit comes the little horn, "Little Horn is born".... |
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Maistresse
Undertaker
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 09 March 2004 : 09:16:01 AM
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I'm sure it is the same in most places, but here in America you usually see rocks and stones on many graves especially Jewish graves. From what I understand a Jewish person would pray at the grave of their loved-one and then lie the stone on their grave. It was just a symbol of the prayer.
No doubt it was taken up by people of many faiths. |
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maharet
DOA
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 09 March 2004 : 09:34:33 AM
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i to woundered about what different things on the grave stones ment, and now next time i go to the graveyard to look at the headstones ill remember what everything means. i just enjoy those 5 hour walks through the cemetary at night. the moon is so beautiful in the midnight sky here. it has a very milks color. and the midnight sky here is so clear even for a big city. but thank you for giving the knoledge to know what every thing means in the graveyard.
Maharet[/blue]
.... the moon rises over the newly chilled landscape of the forest, and a tall slender creature with peircing blue eyes catches your gaze.... |
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Nothing
Ghost
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - 31 March 2004 : 1:16:21 PM
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has anyone here ever seen the cemetarys in New Orleans ive always wanted to go there but im stuck in wisconson  i hate it here so much
 nothing |
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Iceheart
Undertaker / Pink Star Lover
Australia
1146 Posts |
Posted - 31 March 2004 : 11:33:06 PM
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*sigh* I watched a doco on Anne Rice not long ago, MAN New Orleans looks like a beautiful place......especially that Lafeyette Cemetary...
In time, Darkness will choose a side... |
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Iceheart
Undertaker / Pink Star Lover
Australia
1146 Posts |
Posted - 21 September 2004 : 2:32:38 PM
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I went to the cemetery in Beenleigh the other evening and found several ancetors buried there......well, my step-fathers ancestors anyway. The oldest grave was 160 years ago 
I wouldn't like to be buried...claustrophobia.
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Heaven bent to take my hand, and lead me thru the fire.
Be the long awaited answer, to a long and painful fight.
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Topic |
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Grave Markings
